by Daryl Daughtry, Co-Founder

If you’ve spent any time in church leadership, ministry, or even just scrolling through Christian social media lately, you’ve probably noticed coaching is everywhere. Life coaching, leadership coaching, marriage coaching, and more. And a lot of people are asking the same question: is this legit, or is it repackaged self-help with Bible verses sprinkled on top?

1. What even is Christian coach training?

At its core, it’s a program that teaches people how to help others toward personal or spiritual growth using coaching methodology, but filtered through a biblical worldview instead of generic secular psychology. Most programs blend listening skills, goal-setting frameworks, and accountability structures with scripture, prayer, and theological grounding. Some are rigorous. Some are a weekend workshop with a certificate at the end. The range is wide, which is exactly why question two matters so much.

2. Is a 10-week certification actually enough?

Ten weeks can absolutely teach you the bones of coaching, active listening, powerful questions, goal frameworks. But coaching, especially coaching that touches someone’s faith and identity, isn’t just a skillset. It’s a posture. You’re sitting across from someone wrestling with shame, a marriage falling apart, or a calling they can’t quite name, and you need more than a checklist. I’d rather see someone finish a 10-week program and then spend a year coaching real people under supervision than someone who treats the certificate as the finish line.

3. Does it matter if the program is accredited?

Sort of, but not in the way people think. Accreditation through something like the ICF gives you a baseline of credibility and tells you the curriculum hits certain competencies. But I’ve met ICF-accredited coaches who couldn’t hold a real conversation, and I’ve met self-taught coaches who were phenomenal because they’d done the inner work themselves first. Accreditation is a signal, not a guarantee. Use it as one data point among several, not the whole decision. Life Breakthrough Academy is accredited by the Association for Coaching.

4. What’s the difference between coaching and counseling here?

Some training programs blur the line on purpose because it sounds more impressive. Counseling typically deals with healing past wounds and diagnosing mental health concerns. Coaching is forward-facing. It assumes the person is whole and resourceful and helps them move from where they are to where they want to be. A good Christian coaching program should drill this distinction into you on day one, including when to refer someone to a licensed counselor instead of trying to coach them through something clinical.

5. Do I need a theology degree to be taken seriously?

No, and honestly, most of the best coaches don’t have one. What you need is a working, humble understanding of scripture and a willingness to say “I don’t know” when a theological question is above your pay grade. A coach who’s memorized verses to sound authoritative is more dangerous than one who’s honest about their limits and points people to a pastor or theologian when needed.

6. How much should training cost?

Programs run anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. It’s confusing because price doesn’t track neatly with quality. Some of the priciest programs are mostly marketing and a slick brand. Before paying, ask to talk to an instructor to ask questions. Ask what you should know before signing up. That conversation will give you s sense of being a good fit or not.

7. Will this actually help me build a coaching business?

Training teaches you to coach. It does not teach you to run a business, and a lot of programs conflate the two, which sets people up for disappointment. Building a sustainable coaching practice takes marketing, niche clarity, and relationship-building. The best path is to hire a marketing coach for yourself once you are certified.

8. What should I look for in the actual curriculum?